Selecting and driving means for
selectively operable counters



1957 R. GRUENIG ETAL 3,334,810

SELECTING AND DRIVING MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY OPERABLE COUNTERS Filed April 26, 1965 INVENTOAS RUDOLF GRUEN/G ERunv BERGER Avmemevs rates ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure relates to interlocking means preventing operation of counter elements in the event either no key or a wrong key is operated. The counter elements can be controlled, by way of example, from the keys of a cash register or a posting machine. Two or more selector shafts are provided and are driven 'by respective setting shafts of the totalizing means, such as the visual indicator or a printing mechanism. Each selector shaft has secured thereon selector disks operatively associated with each counter element. These selector disks have a plurality of uniformly circumferentially spaced radial lugs around their periphery and, with respect to each disk, one or more lugs are broken away or omitted to leave a gap.

A key shift element is arranged to slidably embrace a pair of selector shafts, and is displaceable laterally of the selector shafts. This key shift element has abutments thereon which, under certain circumstances, engage lugs of the associated disk to prevent displacement of the key shift element. However, when a proper key has been operated, the selector shafts are angularly displaced to a position wherein the gaps between lugs are aligned with the abutments on the key shift element. Under these circumstances, the key shift element can be laterally displaced to effect operation of a counter element.

Background of the the invention This invention relates to and other posting machines novel selecting and driving counters used to express tomers served, particular It is customary, in many instances, to provide cash registers and other posting apparatus with individual counters for indicating the totals of various operations such as, for example, the number of customers served, the number of sales of a particular item, and the like. The first type of counter is generally known as a customer counter and the second type is generally known as an item counter. These counters may be activated by depressing a particular key on the keyboard of the cash register or other posting machines. It is necessary, however, to provide means whereby the operation of such special counters will not interfere with the printing or indicating mechanisms for the totals or sub-totals of the cash register or other posting apparatus. Various arrangements have been proposed for this purpose, but have attendent disadvantages.

An object of the present invention is to provide, in a cash register or the like, selectively operable special counters several of which can be combined into one counter block together with respective selecting and driving devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel selecting and driving device for selectively operable counters on a cash register or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a selecting and driving device for selectively operable counters of counters for cash registers and, more particularly, to a device for selectively operable particular totals, such as cusgoods sold, etc.

a cash register or the like, in which the selecting and driving means comprises two or more selector shafts driven by the setting shafts of totalizing means, such as a visual indicator or a printing mechanism.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a selecting and driving means for selectively operable counters of a cash register or the like, and including selector shafts driven by the setting shafts of a visual indicator or a printing mechanism, and including novel interlocking means preventing operation of the selectively operable counters in the event no key or a wrong key is operated.

In the selecting and driving mechanism of the present invention, the counters can be controlled, by way of example, from the keys of a cash register or a posting machine. For this purpose, two or more selector shafts are provided which are driven by respective setting shafts of the totalizing means, such as a visual indicator or a printing mechanism. The selector shaft associated with each counter has secured thereon a selector disc provided with ci-rcumferentially spaced radially projecting lugs or fingers. Also, on the two or more selector shafts, there is arranged, in sliding relation, a key shift element which is operatively connected with a switching lever of a driving device for a selectively operable counter.

For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference is made to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view through selecting and driving means embodying the invention, taken along the line 11 of FIG. 3 and illustrating the individual parts of the selecting and driving means in their basic or rest positions;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 3, but illustrating the individual parts of the selecting and driving mechanism at the limit of the switch in g position;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a counter assembly or counter block; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate two different positions of the selecting shafts or selecting discs and wherein advance of a selectively operable counter is prevented.

Referring to the drawings, the selecting device comprises, essentially, two selector shafts 1 and 2, two selector discs 3 and 4, and a key operated element 5. Discs 3 and 4 are fixedly secured to shafts 1 and 2, respectively, and these selector shafts also have secured thereto counting wheels or gears 6 and 7, respectively. Counting gears 6 and 7 mesh with racks 8 and 9, respectively, and racks 8 and 9, through respective intermediate gears 10 and 11, are operatively connected to setting shafts 12 and 13, respectively, of the visual indicator or printing mechanism of a cash register or other posting machine.

With the arrangement thus far described, every change in the visual indicator or in the printing mechanism is positively transmitted to selector shafts 1 and 2. Intermediate gears 10 and 11 also mesh with respective racks 15 and 16, and these racks are releasably maintained in operative position by means'of a detent com'b 14. Thus, by means of the releasable detent comb 14, selector shafts 1 and 2 are also releasably retained against rotation by racks 15 and 16, intermediate gears 10 and 11, racks 8 and 9, and wheels 6 and 7.

Stated more specifically, selector shaft 1 is connected through counting wheel or gear 6, rack 8, and intermediate gear 10 with setting shaft 12 and transmits, to a selecting disc 3, each one of the ten possible positions of the counting mechanism as selected by operation of a key. Similarly, selector shaft 2 is connected with setting shaft 13 through gear 7, rack 9 and intermediate gear 11, and transmits to the selector disc 4 each one of the ten possible positions of the key associated with setting shaft 13. In correspondence with the tens division of the visual indicator and the printing mechanism, selector discs 3 and 4 have been originally provided with ten fingers or lugs 3a and 4a, respectively, uniformly arranged in slightly separated circumferentially spaced relation around the associated discs.

Cams or abutments 5a and 5b are provided on key operated shift element 5 and, when one of the fingers 3a or 4a is directly opposite its associated cam, the advance of the counter is prevented in a manner described hereinafter. Thus, if the operating key of a selectively operable counter is to effect advance of such counter, the respective fingers 3a and 4a opposite cams 5a and 5b must have been omitted or broken out at the latest when assembling the counter, so that these cams will be aligned with the obtained gaps of the discs 3 and 4, respectively.

The key operated shifting element 5, carrying cams 5a and 5b, is formed with a longitudinally extending slot or recess by means of which it is slidably mounted in embracing relation on selector shafts 1 and 2. Element 5 has a forked finger 5c projecting laterally therefrom and engaging a pin 22a on a switch lever 22 of the driving device. By the cooperation of selector discs 3 and 4 with key operated shifting element 5, it is possible to control the advance of the counter selected by a key through setting shafts 12 and 13. It should be understood, however, that three or more selector shafts, or three or more selector discs, cooperating with a common key shifting element 5 could be provided.

The driving means comprises, essentially, driving levers 20, 20a, a cam lever 21, and switch lever 22. The power for the driving mechanism is derived from the main Operating shaft 23 of the cash register or other posting machine. For this purpose, two cam discs 24 and 25 are provided on shaft 23. With each revolution of main shaft 23, these cam discs positively oscillate a lever 27 which is oscillatably mounted on a shaft 26. Lever 27 transmits its angular displacement to driving lever 20 fixed to a driving shaft 28 mounted in the counter assembly or counter block. Driving levers 2011 also are fixed to driving shaft 28 and thus execute, together with driving levers 21 an angular displacement or oscillation of about 30 with each revolution of main shaft 23.

Each driving lever 20 and 20a s equipped with a driving pin 29 extending into a slot 21a formed in cam lever 21. This slot is in the form of two consecutive circular arcs having different centers, with the center of the first or initial arc being the axis of shaft 28. Cam lever 21 is oscillatably mounted on a fixed shaft 30 in the counter block. By means of a pin 31 extending through an elongated slot 22b in switch lever 22, this lever is connected to cam lever 21 for lateral displacement relative thereto. Switch lever 22 is furthermore slidably and pivotally mounted on shaft 30 through the medium of a rectangular slot 22d, and is biased to the right, as viewed in the drawings, by a tension spring 32. Thus, in the basic or rest position of the driving means, an edge surface 220 of switch lever 22 is biased into engagement with pin 29. The fork-shaped extension 50 of key operated shift element 5 is so designed that switch lever 22 can carry out its pivotal movements without hindrance.

If a selectively operable counter is to be advanced, the selecting device is set, by operation of a respective key, through intermediate gears and 11 and racks 8 and 9, and in such a manner that the gap left by each brokenout finger, respectively, is positioned in alignment with the cams 5a and 5b, respectively, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The actual advance of the counter commences with oscillation of the driving levers and 20a after the selecting device has been set. In the first part of the oscillatory movement of the driving levers, each pin 29 follows the initial or rising circular arc of the respective slot 21a.

During this partial oscillation of the driving levers, the positions of cam levers 21 are not changed. However, due to the bias of springs 32, switch levers 22 are shifted to the right until the edges 22d of the slots toward the left ends thereof engage shaft 30. Key operated shifting element 5 follows this movement of switch lever 22, and thus its cams 5a and 5b move into the gaps provided on selector discs 3 and 4. In this advanced position of each switching lever 22, its slot 22c embraces pin 33 of a counter operating member 34. Member 34 is arranged to operate a counter 34A having rachet teeth thereon engageable by a pawl 34B of member 34.

During further angular displacement of the driving levers, each pin 29 slides over the intersection of the two circular arcs of groove 21a, and pivots a cam lever 21, and with it switch lever 22, counterclockwise about shaft 30. As slot 22e of switch lever 22 is now embracing pin 33, this pin is moved in a clockwise direction, and thus operating element 34 is moved clockwise, whereby pawl 34B advances counter 34A. The advance of the counter is completed when driving levers 20 and 20a have reached the limiting position shown in FIG. 2.

During reverse movement of driving levers 20 and 20a, cam 21 and switch lever 22 are positively returned to the rest position. Retrograde movement of counter 34A is prevented, during such reverse movement, by a spring biased pawl 34C. In the first part of the reverse movement, switch lever 22 is positively displaced clockwise about shaft 30 by pin 29 engaged in groove 2111 until pin 33 is back in the rest position of FIG. 1. After pin 29 has reached the intersection of the two circular arcs of groove 21a, it engages surface 220 of switch lever 22 and shifts the latter, together with key operated shifting element 5, to the left against the bias of spring 32. As soon as driving levers 20 and 20a have reached their extreme clockwise position, all parts of the driving means are again in the rest position of FIG. 1.

Switch lever 22 is provided with a nose 22f which retains pin 33 of counter operating element 34 in the rest position. Since key operated shift element 5 is in its rest position again, selector shafts 1 and 2 can be reset.

The advance of a selected counter is prevented when either one or both of the associated selector discs 3 and 4 has a finger or lug 3a or 4a, respectively, opposite a respective cam 5a or 5b and thus blocking movement of key operated shifting element to the right as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5. If, for example, either no key or a Wrong key is depressed in the counting mechanism, a lug 3a of selector disc 3 blocks shifting of element 5 to the right, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The same effect occurs with selector disc 4, as viewed in FIG. 5.

In such an instance, during the first part of the oscillatory movement of driving levers 20 or 20a, switch lever 22 is retained by key shift element 5 in the rest position, thereby restraining switch lever 22 from engagement with pin 33. When pin 29 passes over the intersection of the circular arcs of groove 2111, switch lever 22 and cam lever 21 are pivoted counterclockwise about shaft 30, but without advance of the counter 34A.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cash register or the like posting machine including a key board, totalizing means having setting shafts, and selectively operable counters: selecting and driving mechanism for said counters comprising, in combination, plural selector shafts each positively rotatable by a respective setting shaft; plural selector discs each secured to a respective selector shaft and each corresponding to a respective selectively operable counter; driving means for each counter, including a counter driving member; key shift means displaceably mounted on said select-or shafts for displacement laterally thereof, and operatively connected with a respective driving member for operation of the latter only with displacement of said key shift means; and means on said selector discs selectively engageable with said key shift means to prevent displacement of the latter responsive to operation of either no key or a Wrong key.

2. In a cash register or the like posting machine including a key board, totalizing means having setting shafts, and selectively operable counters: selecting and driving mechanism for said counters comprising, in combination, plural selector shafts each positively rotatable by a respective setting shaft; plural selector discs each secured to a respective selector shaft and each corresponding to a respective selectively operable counter; driving means for each counter, including a counter driving member; and key shift means displaceably mounted on said selector shafts and operatively connected with a respective driving member for operation of the latter only with displacement of said key shift means; said key shift means having abutment means thereon; said selector discs being formed with uniformly circumferentially spaced radially extending lugs selectively engageable with said abutment means to prevent displacement of said key shift means responsive to operation of either no key or a wrong key; each of said selector discs having at least one of its radially extending lugs omitted to define a corresponding gap into which said abutment means on said key shift means may enter upon displacement of said key shift means responsive to operation of the correct key.

3. In a cash register or the like posting machine including a key board, totalizing means having setting shafts, and selectively operable counters: selecting and driving mechanism for said counters comprising, in combination, plural selector shafts each positively rotatable by a respective setting shaft; plural selector discs each secured to a respective selector shaft and each corresponding to a respective selectively operable counter; driving means for each counter, including a counter driving member; key shift elements slidably embracing said shafts and each operatively associated with respective selector discs on said shafts, each key shift element being operatively connected with a respective driving member for operation thereof only with displacement of the associated key shift element; and means on said selector discs selectively engageable with the associated key shift element to prevent displacement of the latter responsive to operation of either no key or a wrong key.

4. In a cash register or the like posting machine including a key board, totalizing means having setting shafts, and selectively operable counters: selecting and driving mechanism for said counters comprising, in combination, plural selector shafts each positively rotatable by a respective setting shaft; plural selector discs each secured to a respective selector shaft and each corresponding to a respective selectively operable counter; driving means for each counter, including a counter driving member; key shift elements slidably embracing said shafts and each operatively associated with respective selector discs on said shafts, each key shift element being operatively connected with a respective driving member for operation thereof only with displacement of the associated key shift element; each key shift element having abutment means thereon; and radially extending uniformly circumferentially spaced lugs on each selector disc selectively engageable with said abutment means to prevent displacement of the associated key shift element responsive to operation of either no key or a wrong key.

5. In a cash register or the like posting machine including a key board, totalizing means having setting shafts, and selectively operable counters: selecting and driving mechanism for said counters comprising, in combination, plural selector shafts each positively rotatable by a respective setting shaft; plural selector discs each secured to a respective selector shaft and each corresponding to a respective selectively operable counter; a counter driving member for each counter; plural switch levers each selectively displaceable to engage a respective driving member to advance the associated counter; plural key shift elements each displaceably mounted on said selector shafts and each operatively associated with a respective switch lever and respective selector discs, each key shift element being connected to its associated switch lever for conjoint displacement therewith; driving means, including lost motion connections, effective to displace said switch levers; and means on said selector discs selectively engageable with the associated key shift element to prevent displacement of the latter, and of the associated switch lever into operative engagement with the associated driving member, responsive to operation of either no key or a wrong key; each switch lever being mounted for pivotal and slidable displacement, and being effective to operate its associated driving member only upon both pivotal and slidable displacement of said switch lever; said last-named means preventing slidable displacement of the associated switch lever while providing for pivotal displacement thereof through said lost motion connections to said driving means.

6. In a cash register or the like posting machine including a main driving shaft, a key board, totalizing means having setting shafts, and selectively operable counters: selecting and driving mechanism for said counters comprising, in combination, plural selector shafts each positively rotatable by a respective setting shaft; plural selector discs each secured to a respective selector shaft and each corresponding to a respective selectively operable counter; a counter driving member associated with each counter and operable, when activated, to advance the associated counter stepwise; a pivotally and slidable mounted switch lever associated with each driving member and each operable, upon both pivotal and slidable displacement thereof, to engage and operate the associated counter driving member; plural cam levers each associated with a respective switch lever and each pivotal coaxially with its associated switch lever and having a slidable connection to the latter effective to provide for conjoint pivoting of each cam lever with its associated switch lever while providing for a lateral displacement of each switch lever relative to its associated cam lever; an oscillatably mounted driving lever effective to pivot said cam levers; means, including cam means, connecting said driving lever to said main driving shaft for oscillation of said driving lever upon rotation of said main driving shaft; said driving lever upon oscillation thereof during one revolution of said main driving shaft, cyclically oscillating said cam levers between a rest position and an operative position; plural key shift elements, each operatively associated with a respective switch lever and mounted on said selector shafts, in association with respective selector discs, for displacement laterally of said selector shafts, each key shift element being connected to its associated switch lever for conjoint lateral displacement therewith; spring means interconnecting each switch lever and said driving lever and biasing said switch levers toward lateral displacement into engagement with the associated counter driving member upon oscillation of said driving lever from a rest position to an operated position; and means on said selector discs selectively engageable with the associated key shift element to prevent displacement of the latter, and of the associated switch lever into operative engagement with the associated counter driving member, responsive to operation of either no key or a wrong key.

7. In a cash register or the like posting machine including a main driving shaft, a key board, totalizing means having setting shafts, and selectively operable counters: selecting and driving mechanism for said counters comprising, in combination, plural selector shafts each positively rotatably by a respective setting shaft; plural selector discs each secured to a respective selector shaft and each corresponding to a respective selectively operable counter; a counter driving member associated with each counter and operable, when activated, to advance the associated counter stepwise; a pivotally and slidably mounted switch lever associated with each driving member and each operable, upon both pivotal and slidable displacement thereof, to engage and operate the associated counter driving member; plural cam levers each associated with a respective switch lever and each pivotal coaxially with its associated switch lever and having a slidable connection to the latter effective to provide for conjoint pivoting of each cam lever with its associated switch lever while providing for a lateral displacement of each switch lever relative to its associated cam lever; an oscillatably mounted driving lever effective to pivot said cam levers; means, including cam means, connecting said driving lever to said main driving shaft for oscillation of said driving lever upon rotation of said main driving shaft; said driving lever upon oscillation thereof during one revolution of said main driving shaft, cyclically oscillating said cam levers between a rest position and an operative position; plural key shift elements, each operatively associated with a respective switch lever and mounted on said selector shafts, in association with respective selector discs, for displacement laterally of said selector shafts, each key shift element being connected to its associated switch lever for conjoint lateral displacement therewith; spring means interconnecting each switch lever and said driving lever and biasing said switch levers toward lateral displacement into engagement with the associated counter driving member upon oscillation of said driving lever from a rest position to an operated position; and means on said selector discs selectively engageable with the associated key shift element to prevent displacement of the latter, and of the associated switch lever into operative engagement with the associated counter driving member, responsive to operation of either no key or a Wrong key; said cam levers each being formed with a groove comprising consecutive first and second circular arcs having different centers, the center of each first circular are being coaxial with the axis of said driving lever; said driving lever having a pin, adjacent its free end, extending through the slots of said cam levers, and said spring means being connected to said pin.

8. In a cash register or the like posting machine including a main driving shaft, a key board, totalizing means having setting shafts, and selectively operable counters: selecting and driving mechanism for said counters comprising, in combination, plural selector shafts each positively rotatable by a respective setting shaft; plural selector discs each secured to a respective selector shaft and each corresponding to a respective selectively operable counter; a counter driving member associated with each counter and operable, when activated, to advance the associated counter stepwise; a pivotally and slidably mounted switch lever associated with each driving member and each operable, upon both pivotal and slidable displacement thereof, to engage and operate the associated counter driving member; plural cam levers each associated with a respective switch lever and each pivotal coaxially with its associated switch lever and having a slidable connection to the latter effective to provide for conjoint pivoting of each cam lever with its associated switch lever while providing for a lateral displacement of each switch lever relative to its associated cam lever; an oscillatably mounted driving lever effective to pivot said cam levers; means, including cam means, connecting said driving lever to said main driving shaft for oscillation of said driving lever upon rotation of said main driving shaft; said driving lever upon oscillation thereof during one revolution of said main driving shaft, cyclically oscillating said cam levers between a rest position and an operative position; plural key shift elements, each operatively associated with a respective switch lever and mounted on said selector shafts, in association With respective selector discs, for displacement laterally of said selector shafts, each key shift element being connected to its associated switch lever for conjoint lateral displacement therewith; spring means interconnecting each switch lever and said driving lever and biasing said switch levers toward lateral displacement into engagement with the associated counter driving member upon oscillation of said driving lever from a rest position to an operated position; and means on said selector discs selectively engageable with the associated key shift element to prevent displacement of the latter, and of the associated switch lever into operative engagement with the associated counter driving member, responsive to operation of either no key or a wrong key; said cam levers each being formed with a groove comprising consecutive first and second circular arcs having different centers, the center of each first circular are being coaxial with the axis of said operating lever; said driving lever having a pin, adjacent its free end, extending through the slots on said cam levers, and said spring means being connected to said pin; said driving levers, when said pin is traveling along said first circular arc, biasing the switch levers laterally under the influence of the associated springs to engage the associated counter driving members and to abut a stop on the associated cam levers, provided that the correct key associated with each selectively operable counter has been operated; said driving lever, when said pin is traveling along said circular arc, pivoting said cam levers and associated switch levers; the connection between each switch lever and the associated key shift element providing for pivoting movement of the switch lever relative to the associated key shift element.

9. In a cash register or the like posting machine including a main driving shaft, a key board, totalizing means having setting shafts, and selectively operable counters: selecting and driving mechanism for said counter comprising, in combination, plural selector shafts each positively rotatable by a respective setting shaft; plural selector discs each secured to a respective selector shaft and each corresponding to a respective selectively operable counter; a counter driving member associated with each counter and operable, when activated, to advance the associated counter stepwise; a pivotally and slidably mounted switch lever associated with each driving member and each operable, upon both pivotal and slidable displacement thereof, to engage and operate the associated counter driving member; plural cam levers each associated with a respective switch lever and each pivotal coaxially with its associated switch lever and having a slidable connection to the latter effective to provide for conjoint pivoting of each cam lever with its associated switch lever While providing for a lateral displacement of each switch lever relative to its associated cam lever; an oscillatably mounted driving lever effective to pivot said cam levers; means, including cam means, connecting said driving lever to said main driving shaft for oscillation of said driving lever upon rotation of said main driving shaft; said driving lever upon oscillation thereof during one revolution of said main driving shaft, cyclically oscillating said cam levers between a rest position and an operative position; plural key shift elements, each operatively associated with a respective switch lever and mounted on said selector shafts, in association with respective selector discs, for displacement laterally of said selector shafts, each key shift element being connected to its associated switch lever to conjoint lateral displacement therewith; spring means interconnecting each switch lever and said driving lever and biasing said switch levers toward lateral displacement into engagement with the associated counter driving member upon oscillation of said driving lever from a rest position to an operated position; and means on said selector discs selectively engageable with the associated key shift element to prevent displacement of the latter, and of the associated switch lever into operative engagement with the associated counter driving member, responsive to operation of either no key or a wrong key; said cam levers each being formed with a groove comprising consecutive first and second circular arcs having different centers, the center of each first circular are being coaxial with the axis of said operating lever; said driving lever having a pin, adjacent its free end, extending through the slots of said cam levers, and said spring means being connected to said pin; said slot and the connections between said switch lever and said cam lever being formed to provide for positive execution of the movements requisite for the advance of the associated selectively operable counter.

10. In a cash register or the like posting machine including a main driving shaft, a key board, totalizing means having setting shafts, and selectively operable counters: selecting and driving mechanism for said counters comprising, in combination, plural selector shafts each positively rotatable by a respective setting shaft; plural selector discs each secured to a respective selector shaft and each corresponding to a respective selectively operable counter; a counter driving member associated with each counter and operable, when activated, to advance the associated counter stepwise; a pivotally and slidably mounted switch lever associated with each driving member and each operable, upon both pivotal and slidable displacement thereof, to engage and operate the associated counter driving member; plural cam levers each associated with a respective switch lever and each pivotal coaxially with its associated switch lever and having a slidable connection to the latter effective to provide for conjoint pivoting of each cam lever with its associated switch lever While providing for a lateral displacement of each switch lever relative to its associated cam lever; an oscillatably mounted driving lever effective to pivot said cam levers; means, including cam means, connecting said driving lever to said main driving shaft for oscillation of said driving lever upon rotation of said main driving shaft; said driving lever upon oscillation thereof during one revolution of said main driving shaft, cyclically oscillating said cam levers between a rest position and an operative position; plural key shift elements, each operatively associated with a respective switch lever and mounted on said selector shafts, in association with respective selector discs, for displacement laterally of said selector shafts, each key shift element being connected to its associated switch lever for conjoint lateral displacement therewith; spring means interconnecting each switch lever and said driving lever and biasing said switch levers toward lateral displacement into engagement with the associated counter driving member upon oscillation of said driving lever from a rest position to an operated position; and means on said selector discs selectively engageable with the associated key shift element to prevent displacement of the latter, and of the associated switch lever into operative engagement with the associated counter driving member, responsive to operation of either no key or a wrong key; said last named means comprising radial lugs in uniformly circumferentially spaced relation on said selector discs and operatively associated with abutment means on the associated key shift elements;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,052,604 9/1936 Christian et al. 235 2,056,536 10/1936 Sampson 235-60 2,635,808 4/1953 StOWeII et al. 23560 2,759,667 8/1956 Werner et al. 23560 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner. STANLEY A. WAL, Assistant Examiner. 

5. IN A CASH REGISTER OR THE LIKE POSTING MACHINE INCLUDING A KEY BOARD, TOTALIZING MEANS HAVING SETTING SHAFTS, AND SELECTIVELY OPERABLE COUNTERS: SELECTING AND DRIVING MECHANISM FOR SAID COUNTERS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, PLURAL SELECTOR SHAFTS EACH POSITIVELY ROTATABLE BY A RESPECTIVE SETTING SHAFT; PLURAL SELECTOR DISCS EACH SECURED TO A RESPECTIVE SELECTOR SHAFT AND EACH CORRESPONDING TO A RESPECTIVE SELECTIVELY OPERABLE COUNTER; A COUNTER DRIVING MEMBER FOR EACH COUNTER; PLURAL SWITCH LEVERS EACH SELECTIVELY DISPLACEABLE TO ENGAGE A RESPECTIVE DRIVING MEMBER TO ADVANCE THE ASSOCIATED COUNTER; PLURAL KEY SHIFT ELEMENTS EACH DISPLACEABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SELECTOR SHAFTS AND EACH OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH A RESPECTIVE SWITCH LEVER AND RESPECTIVE SELECTOR DISCS, EACH KEY SHIFT ELEMENT BEING CONNECTED TO ITS ASSOCIATED SWITCH LEVER FOR CONJOINT DISPLACEMENT THEREWITH; DRIVING MEANS, INCLUDING LOST MOTION CONNECTIONS, EFFECTIVE TO 